Exo Terra Construction

[baileyjames6]

Hello Everyone,

I have already done a lot of reading before starting a thread but I am at the point where I would like to get some more advice before getting started. I have an exo terra that is 24 inches long by 18 wide and 18 high and have decided to use great stuff foam to create a background as opposed to using the one that came with the tank. The other option was purchasing one from Saurian Enterprizes but the backgrounds that they offer wouldn't cover the whole back of the tank and I really want it to look nice. I understand that after laying down and letting the GS dry you then cover it with the black aquarium silicone but I have heard the next step can be difficult as you need to press in the coco fiber (for plant mounting) while it is still wet. I'd like to know if anyone has any tips for this stage. Another question about the silicone is do you simply spreay it on or do you paint it on with a bruch. Finally what else can be used as a backround for mounting plants as I have read on black jungle that the coco fiber doesn't last to long. I'm going to be using some wood so I guess I could use that but would tree fern pannels also work. Thanks for your help.

[Waterkeeper]

Hey bailey Welcome!

You can press wood, rock, bark or whatever into the GS foam while it's wet to add a good look to it as well.

You simply smear the silicone all over the GS after it dries. A paint brush will not work, silicones too thick. get a 10 pack of cheapo disposable gloves and use your fingers to spread it on thick, and I mean thick..don't be shy with it because you will miss spots. I have seen some people take a hacksaw blade and carve the top of the GS before applying the silicone to make it adhere better... I thinnk I am gonna try this.

I am just getting to this stage on my 44 hex build. I practiced on a 10 gal first. I would recommend you waste a can of foam on a piece of cardboard, learning how to adjust the flow rate as this gives you different amounts of expansion, then you can use it for a dry run on silicone and coco/gravel/moss/ or what ever you desire.

you should tag along my build thread because I am doing a real Step by Step start to finish.

Hope that helps bro.

[baileyjames6]

Thanks very much for your response. I'll follow your thread and post questions here as well as they come up. If anyone else has advice please share as the more information the better. Thanks!!

[baileyjames6]

Hey guys I'm still in the process of purchasing gathering together all of the materials for the terrarium and I was wondering what misting systems people have had good experiences with in the past. I was looking for a smaller one since it is only for one terrarium but I read some reviews about the habba mist that were less than flattering. I saw that big apple herps has a system that looks good but has anyone on this forum used it?

[zeus_roush]

iam just commenting on the slicing of the gs. I just today finished my viv, and i did slice it nearly smooth before i put the silicone on to it. I did a test piece and i realized it was pretty hard to get into the grooves. besides the shape i carved looked better.

[Waterkeeper]

Zeus, Did you use a hacksaw blade to do yours?

Unfortunately I have no experience with misters. I am hoping that I have a large enough body of heated water in mine that I won't need a misting sys. I just saw a post where the guy is using a ver inexpensive aqualifter for a drip sys..

[baileyjames6]

Yeah since this is my first real construction I'm not doing a water feature which is why I definitley want a misting system. It's just that most of the ones I see really seem to be geared toward larger terrariums or multiple set ups.

[baileyjames6]

Does anyone know if this wood is terrarium safe or will it be likely to rot and grow mold?

[zeus_roush]

water keeper
no i used a serated knife